EVGA Cashes in on Tweaked Review Sample Anger

[btarunr]

Cashing in on anger against the likes of MSI and ASUS for sending out graphics card review samples with higher out-of-the-box clock speeds than retail cards, EVGA put out a press release, stating that it never indulges in such deceptive practices as putting up "fake" reviews, or sending out cards with "tweaked clock-speeds" to reviewers, adding that with EVGA, "what you see is what you get."

Last week, we unearthed a disturbing pattern of MSI and ASUS sending out graphics card review samples with higher clock speeds out-of-the-box than what consumers get in their retail cards, out-of-the-box. Till date, we have not received any follow-up statements on the matter from either company.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Frick]

Here's Asus response:

The press samples for the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 OC and ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1070 OC cards are set to “OC Mode” by default. To save media time and effort, OC mode is enabled by default as we are well aware our graphics cards will be reviewed primarily on maximum performance. And when in OC mode, we can showcase both the maximum performance and the effectiveness of our cooling solution.

Retail products are in “Gaming Mode” by default, which allows gamers to experience the optimal balance between performance and silent operation. We encourage end-users to try GPU Tweak II and adjust between the available modes, to find the best mode according to personal needs or preferences.

 

[spidermansnot]

They should have said "What you see is what you get..... now" (cough cough 970 3.5gb)

 

[ZoneDymo]

They should have said "What you see is what you get..... now" (cough cough 970 3.5gb)

It instantly reminded me of that as well and like how AMD cashed in on that with the "where 4gb actually means 4gb" line

 

[Chaitanya]

They should have said "What you see is what you get..... now" (cough cough 970 3.5gb)

I cant believe there are idiots still claiming 970 is 3.5Gb ram when it actually is 4GB just last .5GB block was wired differently.

 

[R-T-B]

I cant believe there are idiots still claiming 970 is 3.5Gb ram when it actually is 4GB just last .5GB block was wired differently.

It irritates me too. They have/had an actually legitimate complaint and they can't even articulate it correctly.

 

[proxuser]

EVGA uses other company's mistake as their advantage. Paid Youtuber's are enough to disgusting and now this.

 

[spidermansnot]

I cant believe there are idiots still claiming 970 is 3.5Gb ram when it actually is 4GB just last .5GB block was wired differently.

Wow - such strong words for what is but a little light-hearted banter. We're making fun of the situation, no need to go on the offensive and get all personal. The fact remains that the 970 is still a very good card, it just does not perform like you would normally expect (technically only 12.5% of it doesn't perform like you would expect). That does not say that it doesn't perform exceptionally well. It's a good card and any person who has one should be more than happy with the performance - I know I would have been had I owned one. Now sit back, relax, grab a beer and watch these companies take the mickey out of one another.

 

[Dethroy]

Imho, pointing your finger at others just so that it appears that you yourself are the knight in shining armor, doesn't really present you in the proper light either.

 

[Deeveo]

Here's Asus response:
The press samples for the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 OC and ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1070 OC cards are set to “OC Mode” by default. To save media time and effort, OC mode is enabled by default as we are well aware our graphics cards will be reviewed primarily on maximum performance. And when in OC mode, we can showcase both the maximum performance and the effectiveness of our cooling solution.

Retail products are in “Gaming Mode” by default, which allows gamers to experience the optimal balance between performance and silent operation. We encourage end-users to try GPU Tweak II and adjust between the available modes, to find the best mode according to personal needs or preferences.

Kinda bs response from Asus, in that case they should atleast mention the fact to the reviewers when sending out the review samples. Most sites OC the cards anyway. Now it sounds just like making excuses.

 

[R-T-B]

Wow - such strong words for what is but a little light-hearted banter. We're making fun of the situation, no need to go on the offensive and get all personal. The fact remains that the 970 is still a very good card, it just does not perform like you would normally expect (technically only 12.5% of it doesn't perform like you would expect). That does not say that it doesn't perform exceptionally well. It's a good card and any person who has one should be more than happy with the performance - I know I would have been had I owned one. Now sit back, relax, grab a beer and watch these companies take the mickey out of one another.

I wasn't really picking on your comment and my comment was perhaps a bit unfair how I phrased it. I spoke more to those who complained about the issue like it was a life and death difference without even understanding the tech behind it. There were a ton of people doing that when the shit hit the fan there, few of whom even owned said card.

 

[Jack1n]

Evga sent a 970 SC for TPU to review with Samsung memory chips, the 970 SC I bought has Elpida chips, Evga are bigger liars than MSI and Asus.

 

[Jetster]

They all play the odds, its business

 

[bug]

I cant believe there are idiots still claiming 970 is 3.5Gb ram when it actually is 4GB just last .5GB block was wired differently.

Yes, that 970 is so bad it's still catching dust on retailer's shelves.

 

[TheGuruStud]

I cant believe there are idiots still claiming 970 is 3.5Gb ram when it actually is 4GB just last .5GB block was wired differently.

And it also causes severe performance issues. Nvidia was more worried about marketing than making a good product. Big surprise...

 

[GreiverBlade]

didn't read the rest of the comments ... but i crashed in to add ...

the only nvidia GPU AIB i had issue (unexplained death after a short while or other weird issues) with was .... EVGA (a 460 a 480 and a 580) if it was only once i would not bother but trice ... for me it's a constant now (10yrs warranty my @$$ they refused warranty replacement and asked me to pay for both shipping cost, if they only asked for "me to them" i would have done it ... but nope )

while with ASUS and MSI (or Gigabyte) i had none (well i had one with MSI but the warranty replacement took less than 1week and a half and shipping paid from them ) ... ok they "cheat" for reviews? (well nvidia itself should also suspected to be doing some kind of binning for the "stock" "founder" sample that are handed to reviewer)

is that a big deal? nope .... not at all, as ALL GPU i bought never reached any result given in reviews... (mostly OC results) so, yep all review samples are "enhanced", altho ALL GPU i bought always brought me satisfaction (except EVGA, as i wrote above ) out of the box (aka stock) and even as they OC'ed less than review sample, they did hold their ground

also ... EVGA is a bit on the "plain" but "secure" side with design (even the K1ngp1n looks bland)

 

[jaggerwild]

For them to make this statement is an insult to everyone who owns the products, as EVGA is no snow white! Didn't they claim Rviatuner but called it percision X15? FAIL! Oh the fan boyz must be up in arm's.....................................
http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/ev...r-rtss-design-concept-into-precisionx-15.html
http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/ev...r-rtss-design-concept-into-precisionx-15.html

 

[Chaitanya]

Wow - such strong words for what is but a little light-hearted banter. We're making fun of the situation, no need to go on the offensive and get all personal. The fact remains that the 970 is still a very good card, it just does not perform like you would normally expect (technically only 12.5% of it doesn't perform like you would expect). That does not say that it doesn't perform exceptionally well. It's a good card and any person who has one should be more than happy with the performance - I know I would have been had I owned one. Now sit back, relax, grab a beer and watch these companies take the mickey out of one another.

I am actually waiting for AMDs onslaught at lower price, if the rumours do hold true and that 480 performs on level with 980. Then things will get interesting, I do own a 970(bought it just after that whole memory fiasco at ridiculously cheap price) and I am enjoying that card as my tv is only 1080p. I am much more interested in how 480 performs compared to 970 and it power consumption levels are really lower than 970. In that case I am going to be dumping my 970 on used market.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Evga sent a 970 SC for TPU to review with Samsung memory chips, the 970 SC I bought has Elpida chips, Evga are bigger liars than MSI and Asus.

Actually, it may surprise you that they all do this. Initial memory chips are usually Samsung (or occasionally Hynix), with later batches just as likely to be Hynix or Epida. The manufacturers take what they have available and install it.

Sometines you can get Samsungs at the end of a line as well. It's all lottery.

 

[bug]

Evga sent a 970 SC for TPU to review with Samsung memory chips, the 970 SC I bought has Elpida chips, Evga are bigger liars than MSI and Asus.

So what? Were they running at lower speed?
While you're at it, was the VRM manufacturer changed as well? PCB's? Capacitors'? Screws'?

 

[rtwjunkie]

So what? Were they running at lower speed?
While you're at it, was the VRM manufacturer changed as well? PCB's? Capacitors'? Screws'?

You're correct, it matters not. All three of the VRAM manufacturers chips run at the rated speed. Some people complain that Eppida and Hynix, although Hynix to a lesser extent, overclock less well than Samsung.

 

[Solidstate89]

They should have said "What you see is what you get..... now" (cough cough 970 3.5gb)

That's on nVidia, not EVGA. So why should EVGA "say" anything like that?

 

[Jack1n]

You're correct, it matters not. All three of the VRAM manufacturers chips run at the rated speed. Some people complain that Eppida and Hynix, although Hynix to a lesser extent, overclock less well than Samsung.

It's pretty consistent from people's reports that they do overclock less than Samsung or even Hynix, there is always the exception but that is generally how it is.

 

[vega22]

You're correct, it matters not. All three of the VRAM manufacturers chips run at the rated speed. Some people complain that Eppida and Hynix, although Hynix to a lesser extent, overclock less well than Samsung.

the concern with this trend is that they pick the better clocking stuff for the review samples then switch to the cheaper chips that are known to not clock as well.

but as said it aint just gpu makers, corsair have been doing it with ram since ddr2 at least.

but it is better than vendors sending out higher end cards dressed up as those lower in the range to try to bump sales of said product as a sleeper. when the truth is the review cards are all pre binned versions with the normal cooler on....

 

[rtwjunkie]

the concern with this trend is that they pick the better clocking stuff for the review samples then switch to the cheaper chips that are known to not clock as well.

However, I have gotten Samsungs both right after reviews and at the end of the line, and all three throughout the life. It's whatever is available through supply channels at the time.